Fast, Cheap and In Control
“This will drive people to finding different, better, cheaper, easier means of getting the programs they want. And it will drive program owners to find more and more efficient ways to distribute their shows to larger audiences. Just as today, we no longer know the difference between broadcast and cable, soon enough we won’t know whether the shows we want to see come from a network or from the Internet. And when we reach that world, we’ll no longer be hostage to network programmers’ schedules. And then we’ll have to ask: What is a network, anyway, and why do we need them? The world of on-demand content is coming.”
Jeff Jarvis, BuzzMachine http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2005/11/30/exploding-tv-death-on-the-a-la-carte-menu/
Bundled Obsolescence
“I suspect that, in a few short years, cable television packages will be antiquated. Already, folks like me wait a year to see series TV on DVD. We are on the verge of on-demand programming for most 'broadcasts’ (and that term may have to be retired, in favor of 'downloads’).”
Tor Lindahl, Tor’s Rants http://torsrants.blogspot.com/2005/11/cable-tv-la-carte.html
Have You No Decency, Sirs?
“As feared, the effort to curb 'indecency’ is becoming an excuse to extend the FCC’s regulatory scope — and a threat to the cable industry’s lucrative bundling practices. When it gets to the horse-trading, will the industry act to protect a revenue stream or a regulatory shelter? Or will 'decency’ allow the agency to get everything?”
Frank Field, Furd Log http://msl1.mit.edu/furdlog/?p=4404
When Free Speech Ain’t Free
“So it violates your free-speech rights when you don’t have the power to cram worthless programming down our throats and make us pay for it?”
Steve Gigle, SteveGigle.com, commenting on NCTA chief Kyle McClarrow’s argument that mandated a la carte would violate cable companies’ free-speech rights. http://stevegigl.com/index.php?id=1846
